From Militant to the Socialist Party

By Peter Taaffe general secretary Socialist Party

The general election was a choice for those opposed to Tory austerity.

The battle within Labour rages between Tony Blair's legacy and those seeking to continue it, and supporters of Jeremy Corbyn who want to see working-class political representation. In this battle, the example of Militant has been a touchstone, showing how it is possible for working-class people to organise and win.

From Militant to the Socialist Party covers developments from the New Labour takeover to the first rumblings of the world economic crisis of 2007-08, and is the sequel to The Rise of Militant. In the aftermath of the collapse of the Stalinist regimes, capitalism's representatives proclaimed 'the end of history'.

But the struggles of workers and young people continued. From the Liverpool Dockers' strike to the mass movements against the invasion of Iraq, From Militant to the Socialist Party charts the fightback, and highlights the lessons of these movements for today.

From Militant to the Socialist Party offers unique insight into how Marxists organised, the programme and strategy put forward at key stages of the struggle.

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What you think

"Just finished From Militant to the Socialist Party. It is a masterpiece. While focusing on the 1997-2007 period, using the struggles and history of Militant/the Socialist Party to analyse the convulsions and development of history and class struggle, it also draws the lessons. It connects the thread clearly to what is happening in Britain and the world right now, and with the movement behind Jeremy Corbyn and the struggle against austerity. Get yours today!"

João Félix

"I collected my book at the Birmingham meeting on 30 May and was up till 1am reading it. I am really enjoying it, and not just because I was there! It's really readable."

Claire Wilkins

"I learnt a lot reading Peter Taaffe's new book. It is an excellent follow up to the Rise of Militant and can be read and studied again and again. The book says that in 1997 there were 217 millionaires in parliament. Several weeks ago the Victoria Derbyshire show on BBC showed a short film of two women visiting parliament. These two women had never voted in their lives. One of them said that the problem was that the MPs are out of touch. They don't know what it is like to struggle. I don't know how many millionaire MPs are in parliament today but I'm sure those remarks made by those women are shared by many who are struggling to make ends meet in austerity Britain today."

Chris Fernandez

"The book is a great opportunity to understand the importance of organising, especially for young comrades. The analysis and lessons are vital."